The sonorous melodies of three schools’ orchestras will fill the AHS auditorium on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The Orchestra Department will be presenting their Virginia Band & Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA) Pre-Festival Concert; the event will begin at 6:30 p.m. The many performers consist of the AHS Orchestra Department, Holmes MS Concert Orchestra and the Poe MS Orchestras.

The VBODA Pre-Festival Concert is a miniature concert held to help prepare the different school orchestras for the official VBODA festival concert to be held later in the year. Each school will be putting on a show for the others and will be given feedback on their performance.

“Well it’s fun to hear all the middle school groups come together and hear the different types of music being played,” said AHS freshman Connie Tran. “Pre-festival also helps our own group to know what level we are at and what parts to work on before the real festival kicks in.”

The performance will be focusing on classical pieces.

“We will be playing many classical songs such as March Triumphant, Little Feud, and Character,” said Poe MS eighth grader Danney Davalos. After intensive practicing, students are very excited, and a little nervous about the big performance.

Poe Middle School’s eighth grader Nick Torrico said, “I am very excited because I am going to AHS next year and i get to see what it’s like playing with the AHS orchestra.”

Hopefully the VBODA Pre-Festival Concert will improve the orchestra’s performances at the final Festival Concert.